Category Archives: Artists

Pennsylvania Dutch Magic: Hexes

19 Thursday Jan 2023

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In 2015, a strange news story went viral. The Bretzius family of Auburn, PA were renovating their 1930s home to discover animal corpses wrapped in newspaper tucked within the walls. The carcasses were filled with spices and other items. The newspaper wrappings dated from the 1930s and 1940s. The family purchased the 2,320 square foot, 5 bedroom/2 bath home in 2011, which fell far outside the window for recourse from the home inspection. The family was saddled with expensive repairs, spending over $20,000. However, they were curious and wanted to know more about the creatures. Somewhere along the line, they were told the animals were part of Dutch magic, or Powwow.

Unpacking of newspaper stuffing (L) found inside the wall (R).

I became fascinated with the resurgence of the story. As you may know, I’m an avid genealogist and have taken many ancestral lines to the American Revolution. My material line has deep roots in Pennsylvania, with many associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch. I found a lot of information on Barnstars and Hexsigns but nothing about wrapping dead animals in newspaper and stuffing into the walls as protection spells.

Pennsylvania Dutch (PA Dutch) is divided into two categories: The Plain Dutch and the Fancy Dutch. I have ancestors in both. The Plain Dutch are the Amish and Mennonites, etc. They are plain folk, hence the name. And they’re not actually Dutch. Their religion forbids decorations, among other limitations. They did not participate in painting stars or hexes on their barns.

The Fancy Dutch are the German Lutherans and German Reformed people who relocated in America, bringing their Dutch and German culture with them. While in Europe, they did not paint symbols on their barns This is unique to their American lives.

PA Dutch Magic is called Brauche or Braucherei and incorporates the Bible into spiritual healing. Bible verses are woven into folk practices. There are pre-Christian and pagan traditions involved, as well. Early settlers interacted with the Native American Indians and appropriated the Algonquian word “powwow” or “pow-wow” for their ritualistic healing. The word can be a verb implying a trance or divination or a noun for ritualistic procedures. It is still used today.

In the early 1800s, these people sought visual protections and created the Barn Star. These “painted prayers” were large circles with painted geometric images inside. One Barn Star is dated back to the 1850s; a painted star on a stone wall was dated back to the 1700s.

The German saying “Yuscht fer schee” encapsulates the essence of the artform. “Just for nice” connotes a playful take on these pieces. No one really knows the meaning of these brightly colored, simplistic circles; however, the answer to why Pennsylvania is known. Early settlers of the state arrived with open arms and religious freedom. The ability to paint visual spells to ward off evil was acceptable.

There is much debate on whether the Barn Stars are, in fact, magic. Practitioners remain secretive about the Dutch magic practices and rarely disclose any aspect to non-Dutch people. Unfortunately, it is dying off.

In 1923, Wallace Nutting coined the term “hexafoos,” or witch’s foot, to describe this distinctly and uniquely Pennsylvania folk art in his book Pennsylvania Beautiful. He attributed them to witchcraft and spell work.

In the 1940s, the term “Hex Sign” was created for travelogues. These painted wooden disks ranged in size from 8 inches to 4 feet and provided a tourist destination for Americans to embark. Quite a few survive today with contemporary artists creating hexes painted directly onto the barn or crafted from pre-cut wooden disks that are painted and then hung using screws. Search online at Etsy or individual artists for pricing.

Interestingly, many people associate hexes with evil. This is most certainly not the case. Barn Stars and Hex Signs grew from strong biblical beliefs. The state of Pennsylvania embraces this history; there is even a trail that you can take to view them.

So, you may be wondering how I jumped from stuffed carcasses to Hex Signs. That’s just how my mind works. I’m conducting further research on PA Dutch magic and may come up with the link. In the meantime, plan your road trip and view these beautiful representations of German American heritage.

Mummy Brown Pigment Was Made with…Wait for It…

15 Tuesday Feb 2022

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, Mummies, Not Haunted, Not Haunted--But Cool

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Roberson and Co. of London’s tubes of Mummy Brown and a color chart.

During the 16th century, a new, transparent paint pigment hit the market. Called Mummy Brown (Caput Mortuum or Egyptian Brown), the pigment quickly became a favorite amongst artists who used it for shadows and flesh tones. The source of the paint wasn’t a real concern. See, the pigment was made from ground up Egyptian mummies—human and feline. If unavailable, corpses of slaves and criminals were ground up.

Roberson & Co. of London made the pigment and sold it in tubes. White pitch and myrrh were combined with the ground up Egyptian mummies. Since the mummies were embalmed, they also contained trace elements of ammonia and fat. Scholars state that the color fell between burnt umber and raw umber on the color scale. Over time, however, the paint cracked and faded. Further, the ammonia and fat affected other pigments. This was a restoration nightmare. You know, in addition to the obvious.

The 19th century Pre Raphaelite artists favored it. Some who were to have purchased a tube included Sir William Beechly, Edward Burne-Jones, and Eugene Delacroix. Once word of the ingredients surfaced some artists discarded. Famed author and nephew of Burne-Jones, Rudyard Kipling retold the story of when Burnes-Jones found out about the ingredients. He supposedly ceremoniously buried his tube in his garden.

L’Interieur d’une Cuisine (1815), Temperantia (1872), The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon (1881-1898), and La Liberté quidant le people (Liberty Leading the People, 1830) .

It is difficult to assess whether any of them actually used the paint. Experts believe Mummy Brown was used in L’Interieur d’une Cuisine, (Interior of a Kitchen, 1815) by Martin Drolling. Researchers speculate that Delacroix used Mummy Brown in La Liberté quidant le people (Liberty Leading the People, 1830) and Salone de la Paix at the Hotel de Ville (1854). As for Burne-Jones, researchers believe Temperantia (1872) and The Last Sleep of Arthur in Avalon (1881-1898) were painted with Mummy Brown.

Production ceased in the 1920-1930s with the last tubes selling in 1964. By that time, Roberson’s stated that interest in using the pigment had wain so much that one mummy could supply 20 years’ worth of tubes. The Egyptian mummy supply had dried up, as well.

There are better substitutes to Mummy Brown. For instance, Daniel Smith sells Bauxite Mummy.

Daniel Smith’s version, sans the ground up mummies.

If you’re interested in other historical paint colors and their origins, check out this amazing blog: http://www.veritablehokum.com/comic/mummy-brown-and-other-historical-colors/.

Paranormal Art Exhibit Opens in Toledo

15 Sunday Aug 2021

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, Paranormal

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Death on the Ridge Road (1935) by Grant Wood and Strange Shadows (Shadow and Substance) (1950) by Gertrude Abercrombie.

Paranormal Art Exhibit Opens in Toledo

The paranormal sells. The Toledo Museum of Art’s Supernatural America: The Paranormal in American Art runs from June 12, 2021-September 5, 2021. Curators assembled nearly 160 objects with possible links to the paranormal. The items include paintings, mixed media art, photography, clothing, and objects. This exhibit marks a return of viewing the relationships between art and the paranormal.

Probably the most famous painting in the exhibit is Death on the Ridge Road (1935) by American painter Grant Wood (1891-1942). The painting’s interpretation begins with the influence of the rural car crash of Jay Sigmund, Wood’s friend. Sigmund’s index finger required amputation from the crash; however, there were no fatalities. Sigmund would publish a book of poetry titled The Ridge Road, seemingly processing the traumatic event through writing. Critics have written extensively about the meaning behind the painting. Over the years, it has become intertwined with death due to its use as an illustration in the 1935 essay “…And Sudden Death” by J.C. Furnas, where he writes graphically about the increase of highway deaths occurring across America in the 1930s. American composer Cole Porter (1891-1964) purchased the painting for $3,000 sight unseen. It is on loan from the William College Museum of Art.

To be sure, I’m unmoved that this painting is linked to the paranormal. It isn’t about a death on the road. Even the painter’s mother was ill, there isn’t evidence that he was painting about her impeding death. It seems that the interpretation is more of the conflict between rural and urban living or the painter’s sexuality. However, displaying the painting draws in visitors. That’s a plus.

The second famous painting is Strange Shadows (Shadow and Substance) (1950) by Gertrude Abercrombie (1909-1977) which is closer to a paranormal theme. Abercrombie was a surrealist painter who was labeled a magic realist. A vast number of her paintings were self-portraits, incorporating magical motifs. Here the “Queen of Bohemian artists” conjures up a moody self-portrait with objects associated with the paranormal. This is worth viewing!

Agatha Wojciechowsky’s Untitled (1963).

The most sought-after artist for people in the paranormal field will be Agatha Wojciechowsky’s Untitled (1963). Agatha (1896-1986) was a medium healer and an artist. She knew early on that she had a gift. In 1951, Agatha worked with her spirit guide Mona and took up automatic writing. Agatha would enter a trance-like state and draw. Eventually, she would begin using watercolors. Agatha was an ordained minister in the Universal Spiritualist Church and active in the New York Spiritualist community. Here is a short film where Agatha enters her trance and paints: http://collection.folkartmuseum.org/people/2219/agatha-wojciechowsky. Please watch.

The exhibit is a traveling exhibit heading to the Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky and then the Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Even if the museum’s exhibit is a tenuous attempt at linking the broad subject of paranormal to artwork, it is a start. I look forward to other museums following suit.

The Tragedy behind Madame Kovar, Ringling Lion Tamer (1944)

25 Sunday Jul 2021

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, Circus

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Madame Kovar, Ringling Lion Tamer (1944), oil on canvas measuring 35×30 inches by Jerry Farnsworth (1895-1982)

The Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida campus, Gainesville, Florida celebrated 30 years last year. Separate from the celebration was a more impressive feat: Jacksonville, Florida residents Samuel (Sam) and Roberta (Robbie) Vickers selected the museum as the next home to their 1,200-piece, Florida-themed art collection. The first exhibit since the donation runs until August 1—better hurry and see it—titled “A Florida Legacy: Gift of Samuel H. and Roberta T. Vickers.” It highlights 162 paintings from the massive collection featuring 700 artists, with 128 women included. One painting captivated me: Madame Kovar, Ringling Lion Tamer (1944).

The oil on canvas painting measures 35 x 30 inches and was completed by Jerry Farnsworth (12.31.1895-12.08.1982). Farnsworth was an American portraiture artist who ran 2 art schools aptly named Farnsworth School of Art. One was located on Siesta Key, outside of Sarasota, Florida. (Sarasota was the winter home of John Ringling and location of his art museum and stunning mansion Ca’d’Zan, eventually the Circus Museum) Farnsworth was called the “father figure of the Sarasota Art Colony.” In 1944, he completed the painting. It is unknown whether it was prior to the July 6th tragedy.

Hartford, Conn. fire of 1944; Madame Kovar with her animals.

On July 6, 1944, Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus was performing in Hartford, Connecticut. Madame May Kovar had finished performing with 5 panthers when the nation’s worst fire erupted. May quickly led her animals to the chutes that accessed the cages. Then she rescued several children, sending them to safety. May, herself, remained with her animals until the fire was extinguished. Over 700 people were injured and 169 killed. Four men were convicted of manslaughter—only to be blanket pardoned soon thereafter. However, May’s story doesn’t end there.

In 1949, May, age 42, had left Ringling and was working in California. Still working professionally as Madame Kovar, May was now called May Kovar Schafer and had three children: Michael Kovar, 13; May Kovar, 14; and Sandra Schafer, 3. On December 20 or 21, May was attempting to break a lion named Sultan. She was working in the cage using a chair and a whip. Her children watched. Sultan lunged and mauled May, biting her neck and severing her spine. The older children, Michael and May, grabbed sticks and entered the cage trying to poke the lion into releasing their mother. They failed. Rudy Miller, a 59-year-old elephant trainer, heard the screams and rescued the children and reclaimed May’s lifeless body.

Looking at the painting, I saw confidence and a sense of pride. The red jacket contrasted with the green background. It was slightly haunting. I didn’t know who May Kovar Schafer was; however, I took a picture and decided to research. Madame Kovar was incredibly brave. And Jerry Farnsworth captured her essence in this breathtaking painting. Head to the Harn, where admission is free, to see this haunting picture.

Tomie dePaola Has Died

31 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, R.I.P.

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Beloved children’s author/illustrator Tomie dePaola died Monday at the age of 85. The cause was complications from surgery stemming from a bad fall he took last week. In addition to his books, Tomie was an accomplished artist.

  1. Tomie knew at the age of 4 he wanted to be an artist. Tomie held several degrees: a BFA from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn; an MFA from California College of Arts; and the doctoral equivalency in fine arts from Lone Mountain College.
  2. Tomie lived for a short time in a priory.
  3. One of his most famous children’s book is Strega Nona (1975), which garnered Tomie a Caldecott Medal in 1976.
  4. He was the author and/or illustrator of over 270 books, selling over 15 million copies in over 20 languages.
  5. He purchased a portion of a property named Glengae in 1985. He renovated a 200-year-old barn to be his studio. His home was once described as “welcoming, vibrant and magical.”

He was born Thomas Anthony dePaola September 15, 1934. A relative suggested he spell his name “Tomie” to stand out from the crowd. He died on March 30, 2020.

For more information, visit tomie.com.

Vincent van Gogh Painting Stolen Amid COVID-19 Closings

31 Tuesday Mar 2020

Posted by in Art Crimes, Artists, Artwork, Not Haunted--But Cool

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Sunday night (and birth anniversary of Vincent van Gogh), The Singer Laren museum experienced a smash and grab. The museum was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The art thieves entered through a large glass window and made off with one of van Gogh’s oil paintings. Here are some facts about the master painter and his lesser-known piece:

  1. Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853-July 29-1890) tried several careers before settling on artist. He attempted to be an art dealer, like his brother; a schoolteacher; and a preacher.
  2. He was self-taught and began to paint seriously at the age of 27.
  3. He was an avid letter-writer. He exchanged over 600 letters with his brother, Theo.
  4. The stolen painting, The Parsonage Garden at Nuenen in Spring 1884, represented a time when he painted about everyday life. He uses a somber earth-tone palette.
  5. Colors played an important role in his paintings. His favorite color to use was yellow, representing emotional health. He used yellow for sunlight, life, and God in his work.
  6. Vincent suffered from mental illness. He committed suicide in 1890 by shooting himself in the chest. He survived 2 days but died from an infection.
  7. The stolen painting measure 10×22 inches and is done in oil. Over his lifetime, he created 2,100 artworks, of which 860 were oil paintings.
  8. The stolen painting was on loan from the Groninger Museum.
  9. American couple Willian and Anna Singer own the museum the painting was stolen from.
  10. One of Vincent’s famous quotes: “The sadness will last forever.”

Since his paintings do not come up for auction often and fetch millions of dollars, it is highly unlikely that we will see it in any auction house publications. Hopefully, it will not be hidden in some uber-rich family’s private collection—removed from the world to experience.

Abandoned Dollhouses: Collectibles for Adults

01 Sunday Mar 2020

Posted by in Abandoned America, Artists, Artwork, Dollhouses

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Assemblage artist Juli Steel creates miniature vignettes using upcycled materials. Her Instagram and Etsy shop theme: “Repurposed art with a twist.” Steel’s Instagram page TwistedCopperForest, https://www.instagram.com/twistedcopperforest/, has over 17,000 followers. Instead of the idyllic dollhouse, Steel’s creations explore the abandoned. Steel’s OOAK, one-of-a-kind, creations may be considered dark; however, they’re very popular. And she’s not the only one exploring this theme.

Canadian artist Heather Benning rebuilt an old farmhouse, removed one side of the building, and installed Plexiglas, thus creating a life-sized dollhouse. She debuted the art installation June 9, 2007. Left to the elements, the house burned down March 23, 2013.

Dollhouses and dollhouse accessories are big business. Peruse the online auction site Invaluable, https://www.invaluable.com/miniature-dollhouse-furniture/sc-JLQRF480JR/, and one can see how expensive the hobby may become. More affordable pieces may be purchased on Etsy. D. Thomas Fine Miniatures, https://www.dthomasfineminiatures.com/, is more than an online miniature shop. It offers an eclectic mix of objects for sale, as well as, articles on and about the industry—an industry that dates back to the late 1500s.

Early forms of the modern-day dollhouse were meant for adults. In the 17th century, “Nuremberg Kitchens” were used as educational devices to help young women learn how to keep house. The most well-known example is Petronella Oortman’s cabinet house (or “baby house”), which was detailed in the limited series The Miniaturist. The house was a large piece of furniture where rooms were replicated from the actual house. Only wealthy families could afford this extravagance. It wasn’t until World War II that dollhouses became toys for children.

Mass production of dollhouses and furniture became more affordable after the war. Production was cheaper by using plastic instead of wood for the furniture and plywood for the structures. The ratio of scale indicates the intended audience. Dollhouses and accessories for adults have the scale of 1:12, one inch to one foot. The scale for children’s toys is 1:18 generally; however, some scales are larger.

Collecting and furnishing dollhouses are a popular hobby. Artists like Steel are re-imagining dollhouses by breathing life into discarded dollhouses and furniture. The online bulletin board site Pinterest is flush with pages showcasing abandoned dollhouses. What may have started as Halloween decorations, these abandoned houses are unique and reflect our interest in all things haunted.

Nellie Mae Rowe’s Memory Head

03 Monday Feb 2020

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, Memory Jugs

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The High Museum of Art (high.org) exhibits the artwork of Nellie Mae Rowe (1900-1982), an American self-taught artist from Georgia. One of ten children, Nellie fled the cotton fields to marry Ben Wheat. They relocated from Fayette County, Georgia to the Vinings, a small town located just outside Atlanta’s city limits. Nellie became a widow for the first time at the age of 36. She married the older widower, Henry “Buddy” Rowe. They built a 2-room cottage at 2041 Paces Ferry Road. Nellie became a widow for the 2nd time in 1948 at the age of 48. Nellie devoted the rest of her life creating art. One of her most remarkable pieces is Two-Faced Head (1980), a sculpture she created when she was close to death.

Memory jugs are funerary objects. Essentially, they memorialize the dead. Most are found in America. Although the origins is unclear, a growing number of experts believe the tradition came out of Central Africa. They are made with an ailing person’s hair and the like. They may also be adorned with items representing the person. Nellie’s father was a former slave who worked his own farm. Her mother was an accomplished quilter. Both would have passed on their African traditions to Nellie and her siblings.

After Buddy died, Nellie was able to turn her home into her studio. She named it the “Playhouse.” Here she made dolls, created yard art, and taught herself how to draw. She adorned her front yard with stuffed animals and art. Symbolism fills her works; Nellie was deeply religious.

Shortly after Nellie was diagnosed with skin cancer, she began Two-Faced Head (1980). She affixed gum she chewed to build the face. She added rhinestones, pearls, and ribbons. She poured herself into the piece, intending it to live on once she died.

Nellie realized fame before she died; her first solo exhibition was in 1978. She is recognized as one of the most influential self-taught artists in America.

Watch a short film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTPIf2jUTjc

Andy Warhol’s Memento Mori Collection

16 Monday Dec 2019

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In 1968, famed modern artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) suffered a near-fatal stabbing. This was the impetus While flying back to the Ito his interest in the dead and death itself. While flying back to the United States, Warhol stopped in Paris. In 1975, Warhol purchased a human skull either from a flea market or a taxidermist. He also painted in the memento mori tradition—reminding his audience that we, too, all shall die.

“Remember you must die,” or memento mori, is the artistic expression incorporating the inevitability of death. Although many view this artwork as morbid, the intent is to inspire audiences to live their lives.

The Andy Warhol Museum, https://www.warhol.org/, displays Skulls (1976), large paintings of skulls juxtaposed with pastel colors. In addition, the current exhibition, Andy Warhol: Revelation, highlights the pop artist’s struggles between his Catholic faith and his homosexual lifestyle. Audiences exit the exhibit staring at the religious commercialized advertising of “Repent and Sin No More.” The collection offers insight into his struggles. It closes on February 16, 2020.

Adding to the theme of death are two taxidermed animals on display at the museum. “Cecil” is a 1930 stuffed Great Dane. Warhol purchased the stuffed dog sometime in the 60s for $300. Warhol believed the dog belonged to famed Hollywood director Cecil B. DeMille (founding father of modern American cinema). Unfortunately, Warhol was scammed. “Cecil” is encased in glass and majestic, just like the stuffed lion that is perched on a rolling cart inside the Archives. Both were viewable on my trip in November.

Warhol’s “bold palette is at odds with its morbid content.” It exemplifies the modern memento mori artwork being created.

“Fairy Skull” Jewelry—Pure Magic!

16 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Artists, Artwork, Funerary Jewelry, Uncategorized

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“Fairy Skull” Jewelry—Pure Magic!

Japanese artist, Shinji Nakaba, creates “wearable sculptures.” Since 1974, Nakaba has sculpted one-of-a-kind, made-to-order jewelry made from common items, such as clothing pins, to precious gems, stones, and metals. His smallest creations are called “Fairy Skulls.”

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Nakaba practiced on a lot of other materials before settling on pearls. He found that pearls were easy to carve his miniature skulls called “Vanitas,” Latin for “vanity,” resembling 16th and 17th century funerary art.

“Mourning” rings were popular from the 16th century until the early 1900s. Although poor people were unable to afford such jewelry, the middle-class families would begin saving for these sentimental tokens. Wealthy families handed out engraved rings to funeral service attendees. The rings served as a reminder of the deceased. The practice ended with the commencement of the First World War; there were just too many dead soldiers returning home to sustain the tradition. For some, the reminder was too much to bear.

These “Fairy Skulls” are gentle reminders of our dead ancestors, as well as, the imaginary creatures who may exist. Nakaba titles and signs each skull; therefore, beware of fakes sold on Etsy, as he does not sell his skulls there.

The Tokyo-based artist ships internationally. His website provides instructions on the piece you seek. For more information and to peruse his collections, see http://s-nakaba.shop-pro.jp/.